Materiality
in architecture is describing the physical aspects of the material used and
composed in a building. In today’s scenario, Architects and designers are
focused on its purpose, characteristics, and suitability to the build
environment rather on the aesthetic value of the material. It can be physical
elements such as timber, stone and rock and is not limited to theoretical
position on the perceived materiality of images, texts or other objects of
representation. Which before this was
labelled as ‘retinal architecture’ by Juhani pallasmaa, where buildings are
refined to please the eye rather to serve greater purpose.
In other words, materiality in architecture
today can be summarized as the appropriateness of one material to withstand
forces faced by the building, resistance to climate. This observation of today’s
understanding of material fits opinion of leon battista alberti’s article,
ehich mainly explains suitability of material and relate to the knowledge from
the past, context and construct method. It is the use of fundamental material
serves as a basic function to the building or spaces, it can be define as
functionality over sensibility. It is more on qualities of solidity, permanence
and heaviness. In addition, materiality more towards the expression of
material properties and value predominantly based on objective, practical and
technical expertise. It advocated durability much more than aesthetics.
Aalto’s
emphasis on materiality and the combination of white walls with wood and brick
and fundamentally present in all of these buildings, particularly the main
building in which shows how Aalto utilize and combination of material based on
their properties to create functional and quality spaces in this building. The views
of nature from inside the building; Aalto uses high glass panels to almost seamlessly
blend together the interior with surrounding environment and allow sufficient
sunlight to penetrate. Aalto used material appropriately to achieve maximum
functionality of the space.
Immateriality, defined as without material form or substance. It is a ‘senses’
as the perceived absence of matter more than actual absence of matter. Immaterial
in architecture trigger a sense more often associated with immaterial, such as
smell, touch. It is more towards human perception and value judgements. Uses of
material like steel, wood and etc build a complex structure to create a kind of
feeling and sense to the space associated with texture of material to enhance
tactile.
Immateriality
in today’s architecture plays important role in relationship of building and
architect. It act as a messenger to transfer message/idea to the community
through building. It can be said, immateriality actually represent modern
architecture associated with new material. Developing an “adapting architecture”
with the factor of nature phenomena and aid of advanced technology.
Thermal
vals by peter zumthor. Stone is the main material and it became the driving
inspiration for the design. It is used with great dignity and respect. “Mountain,
stone, water – building in the stone, building with the stone, into the
mountain, building out of the mountain, being inside the mountain- how can the implication
and the sensuality of the association of these words be interpreted, architecturally?”
Peter Zumthor. The space was designed for visitors to luxuriate and rediscover
the ancient benefits of bathing. The combination of light and shade (immateriality),
open and enclosed spaces and linear elements make for a high sensuous and
restorative experience.
In my opinion, architecture today are
aiming to achieve both immateriality, which is the user perception of the nonphysical
aspects of material, and also the materiality, in order to be honest and stay
truthful to the material, where in some cases, the materiality of material will
contribute to the immateriality aspects in a space. One must still never forget
the intimacy of ones building to the nature and culture aspects and avoid for
falling into the category of architecture for the eye and loses its plasticity
as what Juhani Pallasmaa mentioned in the article.
REFERENCE
1. https://www.google.com/search?q=jyvaskyla+university+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyjqXf_oDWAhVHP48KHY-gBkgQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=613#imgdii=AlB-5TlS122TiM:&imgrc=ip6ZlKTWV-HhPM:
2. https://www.google.com/search?q=jyvaskyla+university+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyjqXf_oDWAhVHP48KHY-gBkgQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=613#imgrc=ip6ZlKTWV-HhPM:
3. https://www.google.com/search?q=jyvaskyla+university+architecture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyjqXf_oDWAhVHP48KHY-gBkgQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=613#imgdii=DnK29T5IwXZGuM:&imgrc=ip6ZlKTWV-HhPM:
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5.https://www.google.com/search?q=therme+vals&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEi4mW-4DWAhXMtI8KHXm6DBcQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=613#imgrc=tq3WykH_aA9IlM:
6.https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&q=therme+vals+lighting&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjdsdCX-4DWAhVEu48KHbHJATIQhyYILg#imgrc=maGU3iT2ZotOAM: